According to a Duke University survey of 800 M.B.A. students from 10 of the nation's top-tier business schools, far fewer of the students will set their sites on dot-coms and Internet companies after graduation. An increasing number will pursue career advancement and personal fulfillment at major companies. Regardless of where they end up working, the survey shows, the size of their paychecks is not the most important criterion. In addition, the survey results indicate that Warren Buffett has replaced Bill Gates as the most admired business leader. Results of this year's "The Fuqua Report," a survey conducted periodically since 1988 by the Center of Decision Studies at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, indicate that 6% of M.B.A.s were actively pursuing employment with dot-com and Internet companies, versus 24% in 2000. In addition, only 1% had accepted positions with those companies, down from 14% in 2000. Other survey results show:
- Advancing or switching careers rather than receiving a larger paycheck was the driving reason for M.B.A. students to attend business school.
- M.B.A. degrees continue to narrow the salary gap based on gender. According to the survey, male M.B.A. students make 4% more than their female counterparts. This gap was 9% prior to obtaining an M.B.A. degree.
- General Electric was the most admired company, replacing Cisco, which did not crack the Top 20 list this year. Microsoft came in second place, followed by Johnson & Johnson.
- Continuing previous trends, M.B.A. students listed their fathers as the individual they most admire. Warren Buffett, who did not make the Top 10 most admired list in 2000, came in second place. Bill Gates slipped to fifth place.
